Foldable boat-chair.



B. T. SNELLING.

FOLDABLE BOAT CHAIR.

APPLICATION mln Aus.3. 1914.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 susns-snzn 1.

B. T. SNELLING.

FOLDABLE BOAT CHAIR.

ArPLlcATlon man Aue.3. 1914.

1,1 61,420. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- v. .we

,-BsvERLir fr.l SLIQING, oFwAsHING'roN, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

v FOLDABLE sAjrLcHaIzs.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

' Application tiled August 3, 1914. Serial No. 854,712.

To all tlf/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Bravi-:RLY T. SNELLING, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Foldable Boat-Chairs, of whichthe following. is a specification. l l

This invention relates to improvements 1n portable chairs primarily foruse in rowboats and the like.

ln cariving out my invention I aim -to produce a foldable chair whichshall be light and portable and which may be easily and quickly attachedto any seat in a boat and effectively retained thereon. i

lt it also my purpose to provide a chair of this character which maybe'tilted to the comfort of the occupant when the chair is m attachedposition, and which is alsorevoluble so that the occupant of the chairmay face any part of the boat without interfering with the chairsecuring means.

A further object of the invention is .to provide a light and portable'chair oftlns class primarily intended for the use of fishermen whichshall, when folded, serve as a receptacle or holder for fishing tackleandother accessories. A

A still further-object is to produce a foldable and portable chair whichshall be light and strong` simple, durable and cheap. w

With the above and other objects in view, the improvement resides in theconstruction, combination' and operative arrangementof parts set forthin the following specification and falling within the scope of theappended claims.

ln the drawings there is illustrated a simplevand satisfactory reductionof the improvement to practice, und in which:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view of a chair constructed in accordancewith my invention and showing the same applied to a boat scat, Fig. 2 isa central longitudinal section through the same, Fig. 3 is a transversesection through the Seat of the chair taken on a. line with the support,and the clamping member swung flush with the support, Fig. t isadetailbottom plan view of the seat showing the supporting member swung againstthe seat, Fig..5.is a.l transverse section approximately onthe-linefro-w ofIFig. 2, looking in -the direction ofy the arrows, Fig.6 is a detail perspective looking towardthe rear of tlie'back, 'Figntsaperspective view of a modified form showngtthe same applied to the seatof a boat, Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the same folded, thebrace links being removed, Fig. 9 is a central vertical longitudinalscction of the device shown in Fig. 7, Fig. 10 is a sectional viewapproximately on the line b b of Fig. 9, Fig. l1 is a perspective viewof the supporting and attaching device, Fig. l2 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a modification, Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevationof a Still further modification, and Fig. 14 is a perspective view ofthe device illustrated in Fig. 13, the same being folded to provide acarrying case.

The chair may be constructed of any light strong material and includes abottom l and a. back 2 which is hingedly connected with the bottom asindicated by the numeral 3. Pivoted links 4 arranged in pairs areconnected to the side edges of the bottom and back, as Shown, to limitthe swinging of the back and to relieve the hinges from unnecessarystrain.

The side members or stiles 5 5 of the back in Fig. 6 have securedtherebetween two transverse rods 6 6 which receive straps 7 7 that areprovided with buckles 8 8. These straps serve to fasten articles orpackages which are desired to the back 2, as will be understood.

The side members 9 9 of the frame of the seat 1 are provided upon theirunder faces, each with diametrically oppositely arranged curveddepressions 10 1O which enter from the inner edge of the said sidemembers and these depressions serve as bearing seats for trunnions l1 11which project from the diametrically opposite corners of a rectangularbolster 12. The trunnions are retaincdin the depressions by plates 13.The bolster is of a length approximately eqaaling the distance betweenthe members 9 9 of the base and is also of a thickness equaling or lessthan the thickness of the said members, so that the bolster may be swungbetween the said members when the chair is not set up (see Fig. 4).

Passing loosely centrally through the bolster isa headed bolt 14, whichconnects a clamp`15 vwith the bolster. This clamp 15 includesasubstantially. rectangular bar 16 whichhas its outer face provided withametallic strapl?, the said strap having one of lts ends bent andcontinued parallel with but'spaced from the bar toprovide what I willtermaaw 18. The strapand jaw have affacmg. o

.Asoftfmaterial 19, so that the same will not injure the seat Q of aboat 2l' when arranged u on the saidseat. The jaw 18 is provi'dedwh atlireazd'd orice'wlthin which works the threaded stein of a clampingscrew 21. By arranginv Athe jaw upon. one end only of the strap 1twill'b'e noted that'tlie chair 'canbe secured not 'only to one of thecentral seatsof the-boat but also to the seat in the bow or to the seatin the stern ofl tlie boat as-desired. A washer 2'2 is arranged upon.the pivot bolt 1-1 between the bolster l2 and the clampto reduce thefriction between these two memlbers and permit the free revolving of thechair.

The ends of the'bolster 12 have secured thereon projecting strapsV 23-23which serve as feet and which rest u on theA boat seat 2O toprevent-fthe side ti ting of the chair when the chair is in the positionshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. These feet may be provided withprotective-Strips to prevent the same marring the boat seat if desired.

B v reference toFigs. 1 and 3 it will be noted that the side members -5of the back 2 rest directly upon the bottom 1 at the rear of said bottomand consequently the bolster is of a sli htly'greater length than t-heback, so that t ie rear end of the bottom will extend sli htly beyondthe back when the back is foFded upon the bottom. The extending portionof the-bottom is formed with an elongated hole 24 which serves as a handholdwhereby the folded chair may bc gripped and conveyed as will beunderstood..

In Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive there is i1lus trated-a slight modificationof the chair and the support therefor. Theibottom 25 has-its rear end,adjacent its corners-provided with extending portions or lugs 26. Eachof the side stiles of the frame of the back 27 has one of its endscurved and projects beyond the back proper. The curved ends Q8 and 29 amarranged against the outer Vsides of the lu s 20 anda pivot rod 80 ispassed througi the said ends and lugs` The central portion of the rod 30serves as a hand hold wherebv the chair can be gripped and conveyed whenfolded. Brace links, ar ranged in pairs connect the bottom 25 with theback 27. he links 31, which are connected to the bottom may be providedwith elongated slots adjacent their endsfwhile the links 32 Awhich arepivoted`to1the`back are provided with elongated slots adjacent their'free ends. .'Headed' studsHBBJpass through the outer slots rinthedinks-las well as throug'hwthe'slots inthe linkslQ-and thumb nuts B4engage thethreaded shanks oflthe'said' studs. By thisfmeans the back 27I may b'e swung 'to any-'desired angle with relation toI the ibottgnn'.4'.l`he fbolster 35 is substantially .simlarftoffthnt 1preaously. de-

.ing screw 41.

scribed and has its trunnions arranged in recesses 1n the side membersof the frame of Y the lbottom'andfretained therein-by suitable platesalso in the manner previously set Orth'. rIrhe clamp includes acentrally pivoted bar 3G which has connected, centrally, to itssidelfaces the arms of a yoke 87. Two straps-38 and`39,rone overlappingthe other pass between the yoke and the bar. Each of these straps hasits outer end bent to provide a jaw 40 (similar to the jaw 18) andeachof the, jaws basan adjustable clamp- In positioninv: the clamp uponthe seat 42 of a boat 43, t 1e straps are drawn! outwardly of the yokeuntil after their jaws pass the opposlteedges. of the seat,and they arethen moved toward each other until their curved or bent portions contactthe opposite edges of the seat. The clamping screws are then applied.This device can only be attached to the middle seats of the boat, andpreferably only one of the straps is movable, the second being securedto the bar 3G and the movable strap having its innerend offset as at 44to prevent its entire passage. through the yoke.

In Fig. 1l the bar 45 connected'to the bolster 46has its opposite sideschanneled longitudinally and one-of the straps 4T of one of the clampshas angular sides which have their edges inturnedto provide flanges 43thatfride in the channels. The sccondstrap 49 lis arranged between thesides of the first strap 4T and is preferably secured to the outer faceof the bar 45. The curved jaw portions'of each of the straps have theirends slotted, and pivotallv ar1anged.within each of the slots is a cam-lever 50.

In Fig. 12 the back 51 is shown hingedly secured Vto the bottom 52, thebrace straps being dispensed with.

In-Fig. 18 I show the bottom 53 of a chair providedupon its sides andback with -cleats 54, the back 55 being hingedly secured to the rearcleat.l

In Fig. 14 I have shown the back folded upon the cleats over the bottom,a hook 5G engaging an eye 5T, retaining the chair folded. l'With thisconstruction the'space between the back and bottom (when the chair isfolded) provides for the-reception of various articles and the chair isthus co1:- verted into a carrying case.

By reference to the several views itwill be noted that the barsV of theclamp aro of a suflicienty length to contact with the rear stile ormember ofthc frame of the bottoni, so thatthe same will not contactwiththe seat proper andinflict injury upon the-same and it isdesirable-that the frames :of-the backs'disclosed inrthe several views:be pro` vided with the rodszand straps disclosedin Fig. 6 4so that, aspreviously stated, Iarticles may be securedto the chair. It 'will bealso notedthat when'the-.chair is inits folded position, the thumb nutof the clamp may be turned in an unscrewing direction to cause the headof the same to contact with one of the'end bars or Stiles of the bottomframe which will serve to lock the support and clamp within the frameand overcome any tendency of the swin ing thereof, when the device istransporter?, and from the foregoing, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the simplicityT of the device, as well as theadvantages thereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which such invention appertains without furtherdetailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim is:

1. A chair of the class described, including a bottom, a back hinged tothe bottom, adjustable link supports between the back and iottom, abolster trunnioned to the bottom, and a clamp pivotally secured to thebolster.

Q. A chair of the class set forth includinfr a bottom, a back resting onthe bottom and hinged thereto, means for adjusting the outward swingingof the back upon the bottom, a bolster trunnioned with the bottom, andau adjustable clamp pivotally connected with the bolster. l

3. A chair of the class set forth, includin" a bottom frame, and a backframe which isliingedly secured to the bottom frame and rests at anangle thereon when in open positiou, the side members of the bottomframe having diametrically opposite depressions2 a substantially rectanular bolster having its diametricall opposite corners formed withtrunuions w lich are arranged within the depressions, plates coveringthe depressions, and a clamp centrally pivoted with the bolster.

4. A chair including a bottom and a back hinged to the bottom, a bolsterhaving'trunuions mounted in hearings ou the bottom, a bar centrallypivoted to thebolster, a strap secured to the bar, and said strap havingan angular end providing a jaw and an adj ustable securing elementassociated with the jaw.

A chair includin a hinged back and bottom, a bolster having trunnionsmounted in bearings in the side bars of the bottom frame, feet extendingfrom the ends of the bolster, a bar between the feet centrally pivotedto the bolster, a clamp associated with the bar said clamp including anend jaw, and an adjustable securing member for the jaw.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor G. A chair having a rotatablesupport below the seat of the chair, and a pivoted clamp secured to saidsupport.

7. A chair having a swinging support below the seat of the chair and arevoluble clamp associated with said support.

8. A chair having its bottom provided with a transverse swingingsupport, a revoluble clamp associated with said support, said clampadapted to serve as a stop for the bottom of the chair when the clamp isrevolved angularly of the support and the chair is tilted upon thesupport, and legs upon the support to sustain the chair against tiltingin a sidewise direction.

9. A boat chair adapted to be removably secured to the seat of a boat,including a bottom and a back hinged to the bottom, a swinging supportarranged transversely of the bottom, a revoluble clamp upon the supportadapted to en awe with the seat of the boat, means Provi ed3 upon thesupport and contacting the seat to prevent side tilting of the seat whenthe said seat is in one osition, and means for limiting the swingmg ofthe seat u on the support.

10. A boat clair includin a. bottom frame and a back frame hinge to thebottom frame and resting thereon when the back is swun to an openposition, a support journale in bearings in the side memers of thebottom frame, stra s providing legs arran ed u on the ends o the supportbetween t e si e members of the bottom frame, a rectangular bar upon thesupport between the legs, a pivot bolt centrally connecting the bar tothe support, a washer upon the bolt between the support and bar, a clampincluding an angular jaw associated with the bar, a retaining screw forthe jaw and said screw adapted to be operated in a retrograde directionto force the head of the same in contact with one of the end bars of thebottom frame to lock the support, bar and clamp in the frame, when thechair is in its folded position.

11. A boat chair including a bottom frame and a back frame hinged to thebottom frame, a support journaled on the bottom frame, a clamp pivotallyconnected to the support, and bars secured to the side members of theback frame.

In testimony whereof 1 aliix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

BEVERLY T. SNELLING.

Witnesses:

E. E. Konnrn, WM. J. Kona'rn.

Washington, D. C.

